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Driver Testimonials Support SR 241 Tesoro Extension

Every driver has a story. For the majority of drivers in South Orange County, their story includes tales of traffic congestion on Interstate 5 and hope for relief provided by the State Route 241 Tesoro Extension. Watch as five South Orange County residents share their stories in support of the Tesoro Extension.

Their stories might sound familiar to you:

Skipping social events because they would require too much time on the road;
Knowing I-5 is already jam packed, especially on the weekends – and it will only get worse as new areas are developed and the economy improves;
Having a congestion-free drive is crucial when business and financial success is based on appointments -- three appointments a day are better than two;
Having driving options means a safer, more convenient, faster way to travel in South Orange County

ABOUT THE 241 TESORO EXTENSION:

Approximately five miles long
Two lanes constructed in each direction with a median wide enough for additional lanes or future transit options
Preliminary engineering, environmental work and finance plan began in late 2011 and will be completed by the end of 2012
FY12 cost of $3.9 million for preliminary engineering, environmental and finance work (estimated construction cost $200 million)
Estimated Average Daily Trips by year 2035 = 41,000
Project creates more than 2,000 jobs in Orange County
Construction planned for early 2013

WHO WILL BENEFIT?

241 Toll Road commuters
San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch and Mission Viejo residents
Commuters from the Inland Empire traveling to job centers in central and northern Orange County
Future communities, job centers and businesses in Rancho Mission Viejo (an approved development not reliant on construction of the 241 Tesoro Extension)
San Clemente residents, upon completion of Avenida La Pata.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Share your story via email to 241update@thetollroads.com
Use the "Email" button to the right to send you story to local elected representatives
Join our supporter list to the right to stay current on the Tesoro Extension's story
Click here to download the 241 Tesoro Extension fact sheet.

TESORO EXTENSION: WORKING TO IMPROVE MOBILITY AND CREATE JOBS

In 2008, the California Coastal Commission and Secretary of Commerce failed to approve the preferred alignment of the 241 Completion Project, which was presented to them by the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA).

Since then, TCA has been conducting an outreach program to meet will all stakeholders, supporters and opponents to get feedback on an agreeable solution for providing an alternative to Interstate 5 through South Orange County to improve mobility and reduce traffic congestion. The most common comment is that there is a traffic problem that needs a solution.

In October 2011 engineering and environmental work began on a plan to extend the current 241 Toll Road from where it now ends at Oso Parkway to Cow Camp Road in the vicinity of Ortega Highway. This project has been named the State Route 241 Tesoro Extension and will provide additional northern access for communities located inland of I-5 and commuters traveling to Orange County business centers from the Inland Empire via Ortega Highway. It provides an important alternative route to I-5. Construction of this nearly-five-mile extension will create more than 2,000 Orange County jobs and an additional 407 jobs statewide.

Download the map

TERMINUS DETAILS:

After hearing feedback from elected officials and the communities in and around the project area, TCA re-evaluated the location of the southern terminus for the Tesoro Extension. Following are details:

With the construction of Cow Camp Road, Ortega Highway will become a secondary road with one lane in each direction and will carry approximately 6,000 trips a day in 2035.
An interim terminus will be constructed at a future road called Cow Camp Road, which is planned to run parallel to Ortega Highway and will be the area's major east-west arterial roadway with two to three lanes in each direction and will carry 30,000 trips per day in 2035.
At a future date -- and when the adjacent local transportation system is complete in the unincorporated area north of Ortega Highway and east of Antonio Parkway -- a permanent SR 241 interchange will be built at future G Street.

ENVIRONMENTAL DETAILS:

Environmental analysis of the project area was analyzed within the Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) in 2006. According to the SEIR, all environmental impacts are minimal and can be successfully mitigated. As with all TCA projects, design features include construction of three wildlife crossings.

Environmental work required for the project includes:

Addendum to the SEIR certified in 2006
Traffic Study
California Department of Fish & Game 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreement Update
Regional Water Quality Control Board 401 Certification
US Army Corps of Engineers 404 Permit
US Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion

After the traffic and environmental analyses are completed, there will be a public review period for the Environmental Impact Report addendum and public workshops. Click here to learn more about our environmental initiatives.

QUICK FACTS:

The Tesoro Extension is approximately five miles long
Two lanes will be constructed in each direction with a median wide enough for additional lanes or future transit options
Preliminary engineering, environmental work and the finance plan will be completed by the end of 2012
FY12 cost of $3.9 million for preliminary engineering, environmental and finance work (estimated construction cost $200 million)
Estimated Average Daily Trips by year 2035 = 41,000
Construction planned for early 2013
Project creates more than 2,000 jobs in Orange County

WHO WILL BENEFIT?

241 Toll Road commuters
San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch and Mission Viejo residents
Commuters from the Inland Empire traveling to job centers in central and northern Orange County
Future communities, job centers and businesses in Rancho Mission Viejo (an approved development not reliant on construction of the 241)
San Clemente residents, upon completion of Avenida La Pata.

To receive e-mail updates about the 241 completion project, e-mail 241update@thetollroads.com.

The 241 Toll Road: A Traffic Solution for South Orange County

Since 1981, State Route 241 has been on Orange County's Master Plan of Arterial Highways to plan for future growth in southern Orange County, alleviate traffic congestion on Interstate 5 and provide traffic redundancy in the area in case of emergency.

Plans to complete the 241 Toll Road from its current terminus at Oso Parkway in Mission Viejo to Interstate 5, just south of the San Diego and Orange County border, have been analyzed for more than 20 years. Completing the final 16 miles of the 241 would complete Orange County's 67-mile toll road system and would provide a desperately needed alternative to I-5 in southern Orange County.

Download the map

Traffic Today:

Traffic on I-5 in South Orange County is bad now -- especially on weekends -- and will only get worse. Twenty-four million people live in Southern California today. That number will be more than 30 million by the middle of the century, resulting in a 60 percent increase in traffic on I-5 in South Orange County and making I-5 in this area just like the clogged 91 freeway.

Economy Today:

A recent economic analysis conducted by Beacon Economics showed that completing the 241 would generate $3.1 billion in economic output for the state and create 17,000 jobs - 13,800 of which would be in Orange County. Click here to read the report

Environment Today:

TCA's primary goals of enhancing mobility and providing congestion-free transportation never overshadow its steadfast commitment to environmental conservation, restoration and appreciation. TCA's extensive environmental programs developed with construction of the 73, 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads represent the most progressive approaches in habitat conservation, revegetation and management; scientific study and planning; endangered species protection; and greenhouse gas reduction. Click here to learn more about TCA's environmental programs and restoration sites.

To receive e-mail updates about the 241 completion project, e-mail 241update@thetollroads.com.

Who will pay for the road?

TCA will sell toll-revenue bonds to private and institutional investors to pay for construction. These bonds will be repaid by future tolls. These tolls will come from drivers who choose to use the road. It's pretty simple: those who use it will pay. Since the bonds will not be backed by the government, taxpayers would not be responsible for repaying the debt if future toll revenues fall short.

Take Action: Email Your Representatives

Don't just sit there. Take a stand. And take action by emailing your local representatives below. Feel free to de-select any if you like. Then send them a message, loud and clear, that you're fed up with worsening gridlock and want traffic relief for all of Orange County that completing the 241 will help achieve. Do it today. Together, we can all keep Orange County moving forward.